Headlines

Predators at Blue Jackets preview

Atkinson set for return to Columbus lineup; Turris has yet to join Nashville

by
Craig Merz
/ NHL.com Correspondent

PREDATORS (7-5-2) at BLUE JACKETS (9-5-1)

7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The Game

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson is expected to return to the lineup after missing four games when the Blue Jackets host the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.

Atkinson, sidelined with a lower-body injury, will try to help Columbus avoid its third straight loss (0-1-1); the Blue Jackets are 4-2-1 in their past seven games. Atkinson has five points (four goals, one assist) in 11 games this season.

The Predators will not have center Kyle Turris in the lineup. Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche as part of a three-way trade with the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, Turris is going through the immigration process and should be available when the Predators host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

Nashville is going for a season-high three-game winning streak after going 1-3-1 in its previous five games.

Players to watch

Predators forward Scott Hartnell returns to Columbus for the first time since signing a free-agent contract with Nashville on July 1, 2017. He played three seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2014-17 and had 146 points (64 goals, 82 assists) in 234 games.

Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson leads Columbus with six goals. He has nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past 11 games.

They said it

"I'm looking forward to getting a chance to play with him. I always didn't like playing against him. He's a competitor and [was] a big, big piece of Ottawa's team last year." -- Predators center Ryan Johansen on Turris

"We need to get back to work and try to have a short memory. Obviously we're not happy with it. It sunk us tonight." -- Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky after the New York Rangers scored three power-play goals in five chances in Columbus' 5-3 loss on Monday

Predators projected lineup

Scott Hartnell -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson

Filip Forsberg -- Colton Sissons -- Craig Smith

Kevin Fiala -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Miikka Salomaki

Cody McLeod -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Austin Watson

Roman Josi -- Mattias Ekholm

Alexei Emelin -- P.K. Subban

Matt Irwin -- Yannick Weber

Pekka Rinne

Juuse Saros

Scratched: Anthony Bitetto, Pontus Aberg, Kyle Turris

Injured: Nick Bonino (lower body), Ryan Ellis (ankle)

Blue Jackets projected lineup

Artemi Panarin -- Nick Foligno -- Josh Anderson

Boone Jenner -- Brandon Dubinsky -- Cam Atkinson

Tyler Motte -- Alexander Wennberg -- Oliver Bjorkstrand

Sonny Milano -- Pierre-Luc Dubois -- Markus Hannikainen

Zach Werenski -- Seth Jones

Jack Johnson -- David Savard

Ryan Murray -- Gabriel Carlsson

Joonas Korpisalo

Sergei Bobrovsky

Scratched:Scott Harrington, Markus Nutivaara, Zac Dalpe

Injured:Matt Calvert (upper body), Lukas Sedlak (ankle)

Status report

Rinne will start after Saros earned his first win of the season, 4-3 in overtime, at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. … Korpisalo may start for the Blue Jackets, who did not hold a morning skate.

Stat pack

The Predators have won three straight and five of six against the Blue Jackets. … Bjorkstrand has four points (three goals, one assist) in a three-game point streak.

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